You Should Be Angry

Let's turn our attention to something more pressing...

"We are like prisoners...We do not have a life, only work."-- Teenaged KYE Worker

During the past week, the gaming community has argued -- in some cases ad nauseum -- over whether not an aging film critic has given videogames a fair break. While I myself have taken part in a bit of the discussion, our attention and repulsion would be better served focused on a more worthy topic.

Last week, the National Labor Committee -- a non-profit association of labor and human rights groups -- released a damning report that exposed egregious worker's rights violations at a Chinese manufacturing facility. KYE, the manufacturer in question, supplies products to many U.S.-based companies, with the majority of its production focused on Microsoft products. How does this affect gamers?

The KYE facility, where young laborers work 15-hours a day for 52 cents an hour, manufactures Xbox controllers.

I've read the attention this news has received, and frankly, I'm a tad disappointed. This story should be more than a daily news blip. This should be more than a re-tweet. The gaming community has spent a ludicrous amount of time defending our hobby to one goofy, old man. Should we not put forth some effort to demand the ethical treatment of those affected by our hobby?

Some "work study students" employed by KYE are only 14 to 15 years old.

These same youth work upwards of 15-hour days, six to seven days a week for mere change.

Workers stay in crude, filthy dorms on-site at the factory -- some with as many as 14 workers in one dorm. If they leave at night, they are fined -- then fired.

Generally, only women are hired at the plant, as management find them easier to control -- and sexually harass.

Workers are consistently screamed at by supervisors, ordered to answer that they "Feel good", etc.

Workers have often been forced to work without pay unless they met Microsoft-established production quotas

These are just some of the issues plaguing these workers.

Obviously, Microsoft has responded with the typical, "Oh, golly gee, we had no idea this was happening." This is pure horsecrap. When a major corporation, such as Microsoft, outsources work to another facility such as KYE, representatives of that company are placed in the facility. Generally, this includes positions like quality assurance managers. These representatives work on-site at the facility to ensure the product is being built to specifications and conforms to quality standards. The idea that no Microsoft representative was aware of these conditions isn't just a misunderstanding, it's an outright lie.

I've read some comments from fellow gamers in regards to this situation, and unfortunately, there appear to be many among us who are ill-informed. Saying these wage slave positions are "a good job over there" is like saying "let them eat cake". Just because because someone lives on the other side of the world from you, isn't American, and tolerates shit that you wouldn't put your dog through, does not make it right. These people have no other option because corporations like Microsoft and the American consumer think it's easier to look away as long as the problem isn't in their backyard.

Think about the irony here: We use a videogame controller to enjoy our freetime and escape our jobs/stress; The kid who made that controller doesn't know what freetime is. Imagine what it would be like if you were completely unable to enjoy a videogame, so some priviledged goof on the other side of the world can. If we're silent, we're just as guilty as Microsoft.

So, what can we do? We're the ones who give Microsoft 50 bucks every time we purchase one of these controllers. We start by holding Microsoft accountable and demanding they end their relationship with KYE. Furthermore, we demand that Microsoft end their relationship with any other entity that flagrantly disobeys the basic tenets of worker's rights. I'm not asking that anyone boycott Microsoft or stop playing their Xbox. Rather, let's show solidarity as a culture. Let's make it clear to Microsoft and anyone else that gamers do not support this type of bullshit.

If you're interested, sign the petition. Please pass it along, lest we fail to appear "well-read".

Thanks to everyone who's signed the petition! It's great to see fellow gamers taking a stand on this issue. Please continue to draw attention to this subject until Microsoft takes action.

In the meantime, I have made multiple attempts to contact Microsoft about the petition. Initially, I contacted a general customer support line. I explained to the representative that we would like to submit a petition in regards to the KYE debacle. She referred me to Microsoft's PR website, where I located a firm called Edelman -- they handle Microsoft's hardware PR, including peripherals. I called Edelman hoping to gain some insight on where to go next with our petition.

What Edelman's representative told me was, to say the least, disheartening and probably a little insulting.

I explained that I was a blogger, that I had written a piece on the KYE subject, and that a large number of gamers were currently signing a petition asking Microsoft to stop these terrible practices. I realize she can't solve the problem, but I hoped she could at least pass along the petition. Instead, the Edelman representative informed me that their "contract is only to deal with the media" and that I am "not in the media" (followed by a chuckle). No shit, lady.

I asked her, in that case, who I could contact about the petition. She basically informed me that she didn't know because, "Microsoft doesn't really have traditional PR like that." What? "Maybe if there was a related article or something," she continued. Apparently, this blog I wrote and all of your comments don't mean shit because I'm not Johnny McJournalist. Sorry, guys -- I should have majored in journalism.

If this is Microsoft's idea of PUBLIC Relations on this subject, my disdain for Microsoft on this issue is rising. Luckily, this woman is an idiot. We're the ones who buy their crap, so we're the ones they need to listen to -- regardless of press credentials.

Until Fair trade practice..

Can be globally enforced, this will continue to be an issue. This has been an issue for as long as I can remember, and before it was an issue in China, it was an issue in Taiwan, and before that it was/is in Africa, what do you think will happen? It's a terrible situation, and there are more than enough people who view it and say somthing about it, but let us be fair, almost any manufacturing company that is located in a country like this will in fact have somthing like this in their portfolio of manufacturing, otherwise it wouldn't make fiscal sence to do it.

Multi-national Corps have been exploiting people for years, Nike, Disney etc... and they still do! What do we do? we continue to purchase their stuff and give them a damning look like it would do somthing if we didn't buy their products. There has been pressure from various international entities to push China to fix some of these issues however "Human rights issues" and the Chinese government have never been friends. This has to be fixed at a more domestic level first, I would say, before we can fix it at a corporate ethics level. At this point, if they weren't doing this they would be working for that same manufacturer making somthing else (due to how some of the government labor planning works).

A fact mr. 4747 can be proud of

This actually gives Gamemaster some grounds for hating microsoft. Unfortunately, cheap labor has been exploited for as long as humans have been civilized. Despite that, it's still terrible, and something really should be done. Sign that petition people!

Disgusted

I am absolutely repulsed by the treatment of these workers. I think that Microsoft (and any other company that does this) should be forced to not only pay huge reparations to the workers, but be barred from doing business in China. That's the only way they'll learn.

It's bullshit

The fact that this shit is still allowed and tolerated is disgusting. I can never understand the people that just shrug their shoulders and move on. Like you said, even if they're not Americans, they're humans too! I've signed the petition, just like everyone should.

Where do you draw the line

I think that many people will look on this article and feel sorry for these people and rightfully so, but signing that petition will not change the conditions that they live in. Making a decision to potentially stop purchasing products from multi-national corporations might have an impact, but frankly, that's not going to happen either. The vast majority of the readers on this site will read this, feel bad for a moment, and then go right back into the clearly demarked territories of their own lives. The only people that can really change the circumstances of the people of China, are the people of China. If and when they make the decision to rise up and fight for better working conditions, then they will have taken their own lives into their own hands and can expect things to change. Until then, you're screaming into the wind.

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

The fact is that we live in a Utilitarian society where the we support the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. In this case, the workers are being worked to death so we, the consumer, can sit in front of our televisions and make a fictional character shoot some minority. I'm not disowning the video game industry. It's just sick that this stuff happens everyday. I bet over half of the products any of you reading this purchase are made by people similar to those in this story.

What can we do about it? Buy fewer things manufactured in China. Buy fair trade and local product. EXPOSE STORIES LIKE THESE TO YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

This reminds me of the short story about Omelas. It might inspire you to do something or educate you about the problems with Utilitarianism.

Ke-Wha!!

So that means we should nothing? We can put pressure on the multi-national corporations to stop using labor, we can make fiscally irresponsible to use these practices. They will make the money choice and stop using this type of labor. With no one to pay for abused employees the shops that abuse these employees will go away. The multi-national corporations will then make big shows that their new shops no longer harm workers causing more shops that don't harm workers to spring up because the money comes in to those shops and not abusers.

@averagetoaster

That is pretty disgusting. Oh and $1 an hour is about 30 times what these people make to work in a cramped factory with toxic chemicals.

Man's Inhumanity to Man

I agree that gamers should take action on this matter, but I'm not sure what action is best.

A boycott of microsoft products, particularly their controllers, would probably be appropriate. As would letter writing campaigns to Microsoft making it clear that their actions are bad marketing. More coverageof this issue would be appropriate, the games journalism industry should really be front paging this kind of stuff more often.

I will say this though, and I want to be clear that I am not an apologist, I am just pointing out a potentiality we have to take into account. Generally speaking, people take these kinds of jobs because it is some kind of benefit. And these kind of working conditions always occur as a society industrializes, it appears to be a necessary stage in economic development, which will ultimately result in better societal conditions for all. America went through it at the turn of the century.

This, however, does not mean that a business is excused from endangering it's employees, overworking them, or coercing them, or otherwise maltreating them. Taking advantage of wage disparities seems to be beneficial to both employers and amployees in the long run, but human rights violations never are.

All that being said, I really don't know what all can be done aside from tarnishing Microsofts image publically, and reducing their profits through boycott. Unfortunately Microsoft enjoys it's place as part of the media cartel system. The industry is highly centralized, and the only way to de-centralize it would be to remove the state protections that create the inbalance, and that is not going to happena nytime soon.

My Wife Said...

That is common all over China. This is not a special case. She said those that work there are kids that done serious crimes. They can't go to jail so they work in factories. With that said, I highly doubt there can be much change. Its not like its Microsoft's fault. If they move from there they would just go to another that has the same thing.

@Xcite79 & @Courage_Vs_Power

You both raise very valid points however the point of action is to stop a United States company from treating people like this. Microsoft may not be forcing these children to work but they are benefiting from it. That benefit is what is most appalling here. A company that does business in the United States shouldn't be able to get a mulligan because they outsourced those jobs to a country that doesn't care.

Also don't forget these jobs are outsourced this is a factory that could be operating in the United States employing US citizens and paying them a decent wage. However since Microsoft wants to increase their profit margin as much as possible they have turned a blind eye to these workers' conditions.

Understanding Business in China...

I don't fault MS completely, chances are they have no idea what is going on in China with the "partnered" manufacturing company they work with. I put that in quotes because one of the reqirements to exist in china as an international company is to partner with one of their domestic companies in order for them to better protect their domestic market. SO! what does this mean? it means that the plant manager will put on a good show when the MS executives come through and make it look very legit, then go back and make it in to what it actually is after they leave. The fact is, this happens all over China, it's not about slave wages or anything like that, this stuff is being contracted out to these companies who in turn are supposed to use that to pay workers/overhead etc...

You want to put pressure on this stuff to stop happening? I suggest one of the many groups that pressures the Chinese government to no longer violate basic human rights. This has been a theme with China for a very long time now, yet nothing has been done.

Sweat Shops....ugly any angle you look at it.

I wasn't angry at Ebert for what he said. I have no reason to hate the guy even if I disagree with him. My only point in that fiasco was "When I pop in a game I don't ask if it is art I ask if it is fun!". Some posters said how glad they were he had cancer. That's going too far but alas, anoyomity online creates the worst retarded assholes our society has to offer. Too many jerks believe "It's not wrong if I do not get caught!". What ever happened to doing the right thing because it is ethically sound? Is fear the only emotion which makes civilization act civilized? That's pathetic.

THIS on the other hand makes me enraged both at the situation and myself. As gamers we want to believe our innocent hobby hurts noone. Sadly when something comes along claiming otherwise we get irate as hell. I remember how many people bombed the concerned wives who complained about the harsh conditions their husbands had to work under at Rock Star. Without having worked there ourselves we don't know what went on there but we think we have the divine right to flaunt our dumb assery while mockishly posting "Boo hoo! I'd kill for a job at Rock Star!" or "If Red Dead Redemption gets delayed due to these emo pansies I'll punch every protester in the junk!"

These kids deserve better. I'm not going to elaborate more than that because I don't feel like I need to.

Maybe 1UP Can Help

@Punk

Please don't misunderstand the nature of my position. I'm not defending the exploitation of any group of people, but I'm also not naive enough to think that if I stop buying xbox controllers, or televisions, or sneakers, or tube socks, or any number of other products that are outsourced to developing nations that things will be any different than they currently are. I know it's something that none of you would like to think about, but if given the choice to work in this factory to feed yourself and your family or starve, which would you take? This incident is not isolated.

Courage_vs_Power makes very valid points about the necessity of moving through these stages on the road to industrialization. The point that I made in my first post was that when workers organize themselves and are willing to fight for their own rights, then true change will come. It happened with the imigrant and lower class labor in our country as well as England and Europe. You're entitled to feel angry and frustrated over this, but those emotions will not change conditions on the other side of the globe. You can choose to boycott the products if you feel that it's a tacit approval by using the goods. That's a completely appropriate response if you feel tainted by the product, but if you have no intention of doing that, then it's a moot point.

@Dictatortot: What a great short story. It's been a long time since I read this, and it is applicable to the situation. Good call on bringing it to the table. Are any of you prepared to walk away from Omelas?

Welcome to the Corporation.

Most corporations are guilty of this, that's how the executives get rich. If Bill Gates made, say, as much as the President (400k/year), that would mean billions of dollars allocated elsewhere. Elsewhere as in the pockets of those KYE workers and all the other sweatshop workers out there.

For every rich person, there are tens, hundreds, or thousands of people living on a subsistent level. You think these KYE workers have it bad? They at least have food and shelter, 1/6th of the world doesn't even have that (i.e. they are starving). Don't hate yourselves for supporting it, we were all duped into believing Capitalism was a positive thing.

Crony Capitalism

One distinguishing feature of China is how heavily the government is involved in every aspect of commerce, their vaunted recent openness and liberalization (what's the Mandarin for "perestroika"?) notwithstanding. Businesses have exactly as much freedom to act as the CCP deems convenient. This is the direction that the United States, since at least the Great Depression but especially within the past couple of years, is taking as well; that is to say, increased governmental participation and influence in how business operates.

So, take heart, folks: the trend is for the United States to become more like China, which means a) that the attraction of cheap Chinese labor will erode as our business environment becomes more like theirs, and b) the wage and working-condition disparity will begin to narrow for the same reason. If things continue on their present course, pretty soon corporations will be able to get here what they get in Asia, and without paying the shipping costs!

On the other hand, if this DOESN'T sound good to you, stop supporting crony capitalism, here or there. Stop voting for, or otherwise supporting, lifer politicians who've spent decades in the pockets of their contributors. Get involved in local politics, where you're a lot harder to ignore (that's how this country was set up to work, after all). Make responsible choices in where you spend your money, time and mindshare, even if it costs you a few friends, dollars and coolness points. It's entirely up to you where you fall on the trend line; no matter how many surveys you conduct, people are not just data points to be shuffled around, at least not if they choose not to be.

P.S. Anyone who tells you how you should feel about something a) doesn't trust their own message and b) doesn't trust you, so why should you trust them? I'm hoping the article title is just a lame attempt at shock value and not a genuine expression of contempt for the audience (that the writer would be wrong to assume won't be reciprocated).

To Be Honest

The fact that some people see something like this as "news" only further proves the arrogance of Americans. I thought it was pretty clear this was commonplace for decades involving several other major companies like Nike or Hasbro. It comes to the point where if I pick up something that says "Made in China" I will automatically assume that an 8-year old with no shoes made it on a 16-hour work day.

utopia

the best boycott should be that japanese third parties stop making games for microsoft, therefore, smart people wouldn´t had to buy microsoft products, therefore, only assholes and retards who probably support microsoft policies and support shitty games would be the only consumers, therefore, microsoft sinks to the bottom of the videogames market, therefore, only competent videogame companies run the show! like those glorious nintendo-sega, nintendo-sony days

Thanks

Most of you don't get it

Its not the business doing it for just greed. Its the government punishing those kids for crimes. I already stated this if some have read my comment. Blaming Microsoft out of greed is ridiculous when it is all of China and its a part of a punishment. I don't know how they couldn't have known about it and I don't know what Microsoft could actually do. This happens with all companies in China. All Chinese know about this type of thing. My wife even knew a kid when she was little that had to go to one. Many here in American (halochief 90) stated are arogant. I am sure this is something our government have had a problem with when it cames to human rights in China. Its bad because they exploit these kids crimes for work so if you want to be upset than it should be China.

Yeah, Bill Hicks is right

The problem is our relative impotence in the current societal structure. This is all happening in an extremely centralized and managed economic structure. The end result is that individuals like us simply do not have the kind of pressure that we otherwise would have to alter the behavior of our economic structures.

Unfortunately you can no more consciously de-centralize the social structure, than you can effectively manage it (and it is the conscious management of the economy and society, through governance, that yields these kinds of anti-human conditions).

And what means "Crime" in China?

Even if these kids are punished for "crimes" we do not know what constitutes as "wrong" in China. My hypothesis is they are a lot harsher with certain rules than we are. What would be an unconstitutional violation of basic civil rights to us in some cases it merely "standard procedure" in that part of the world.

The truth is we cannot stop it. It would take millions of people boycotting many cooperations to make a difference. Sadly enough those very same businesses often supply not only what we want but what we need too.

To Those that think....

Microsoft is the only offender need to get a big fat reality check. Just about every major corporation takes part in practices like this for the simple fact that it saves them money. Quit bashing Microsoft unless your going to bash corporatons as a whole. You sit there and state that you didn't ever support Microsoft. Well check that tag on your clothes. If it says anything other than Made in the USA your wearing sweatshop clothing. Check where all your products are made. They are sweatshop products.

I also agree with trminal. A petition still is doing nothing. Just as US labor lawas needed to change bakc the day. It was up for American workers to change them. The same goes for China. Until the day they rise up and fight their government this won't change. And to be real the corporations will fight that change as well because they will be financially hurt by the changing of the guard when it comes to sweatshops.

We can't change it...

"China has always been like this we can't change it, its okay because they'll just do it somewhere else."

WAKE UP!

Don't over simplify this issue. The point is as US citizens we should have the backbone to say;

"Yeah that might be how it is over there, but that is not how we do stuff in the U.S of A and our companies are not gonna take advantage of loose laws elsewhere just to make a quick American Dollar."

Increasing profit margins by abusing a broken system elsewhere in the world is un-American and inhumane. To all the Microsoft apologists I say this; if Microsoft ran this factory over here in these conditions we would run them out of business so fast you couldn't say "XBox." We should demand that American companies treat international employees like American employees. If you know it or not this constant "taking advantage" is what creates the negative image of the US in the world.

@ Koz and Punk

My point to you was don't just bash Microsoft. I know my clothes come from sweatshops. That's why most of my clothes are organically made from America. Not Mexico, Not Vietnam, Not China. I am trying to do my part. I would help as well, but as China is a communistic nation there isn't a damn thing we can do. Nothing. No petition no uprising here in America is going to do anything. For the simple fact that China and corporations are laughing their asses to the bank. Money can make a good human evil. Yes they're afraid, but that's a piss excuse.They need to strke down that fear like many other nations of people did in history. Would America be where it is today had we not fought for our independence from Britain. Ireland in the same vein. Without the Child labor laws Americans fought for in he early 1900's there would be no unions. There would be no fair practices in work here. Let me touch on Civil Rights. If Black Americans hadn't fought to tooth and nail for their rights America would still be a grossly segregated nation. Don't give me a they're afraid. Everyone is fearful of action, but if it's not taken things can't change. China won't change unless it's people want change and they force that change on the government. The same goes with rebels in Africa. Those assholes need to be stopped. The same goes for the Religious wars that have been going on in the Middle East for ages, but it's up to the people to enact those changes. Sympathy breeds groveling not change. As we sit here and bitch over this issue no one is acting to change it. People need to stop being hypocrites. Everything you say contrdicts itself for the simple fact that you buy the products. I am guilty as well. I'm not saying that I'm not. My main point to you Koz was this you get down on Microsoft yet own other products produced in third world countries. That's hypocritical. That's all I was saying. No one on this blog can bitch about Microsoft and their use of sweatshops because unless your living homeles in the forest whilst being naked away from society you are part of the problem.

@Punk

You act like the good ol' U.S. of A and every other elitist nation isn't guilty of using sweatshops or hurting it's people just the same. There are sweatshops on our own soil. You act like the U.S.A. is perfect and doesn't just fuel the fire. Most American's don't give a shit about the rest of the world as long as we're happy in our little homes with the products we love. The only reason we would run Microsoft out of business here is because we would have that power. The U.S. government would have that problem stomped. Yet you seem to be remiss of the fact that politicians are getting kick backs from these corporations. Microsoft and all of them. It's all hush hush and because Microsoft's name isn't on the sweatshops bill over there than Microsoft can say they didn't have a hand in it. Sweatshops and slavery have been a problem forever and no matter what you or I or the rest of the world do it can't be stopped because money will always exploit it. I'm on the side of fixing it. I'm on the side of saying it's disgusting that this occurs. So is Child Trafficking, So is Drug Trafficking, So is war etc. but you know what it's out of the hands of Americans and in the hands of the Chinese government and people to make these changes. I'd like to see you walk over to China and protest. See what happens.

Thank you for this blog.

I'm not terribly active in the gaming community (hell, I don't even own an Xbox), but discussing the evils of corporations is right up my alley. I'm actually almost finished reading Derrick Jensen's "The Culture of Make Believe" which focuses on 'civilization's dark heart' - hate, racism, corporations, etc. I'd recommend this book to anyone even slightly interested in these matters, it's meticulously researched, highly informative and readable. That you're bringing about awareness on such a topic to other equally passionate gamers is absolutely fantastic, and I applaud you for that. I signed the petition of course, and wish you luck getting through to Microsoft.

It's horrible BUT .....

... this is China. And we're the capitalist West, and this is how we make money. 3rd world sweat shops, crappy factories where the conditions are terrible, and young workers basically in slavery due to the pay they get: that's how the economy of a major world country does business. We buy imports for next to nothing and sell them for a lot lot more. 90% of the items you probably have in your home come from industries just like that. Just because this one example is game control pads, doesnt make it a special case. Get donating to Amnesty International, dont just blog about it.

Try this

You have a few options regarding the issue of getting MS to see the petition.

1. Contact a local PR firm and explain the situation, virtually every PR firm takes on some probono work each year and you might find one willing to take on this mission.

2. Submit the petition and along with a self written article (like the blog above) to as many gaming sites, magazines, blogs, etc as well as mainstream newspapers, business magazines, etc.. as possible. The idea being that if a few pick it up it will start to gain momentum and MS may eventually respond to one of them. You might not get the credit but it has potential and you might even get recognized as more than a blogger.

3. Start your own website dedicated to issues facing gamers both directly and indirectly. Post the above blog as an article and presto you are now a reporter. Call up the PR firm again and explain that you are a reporter (not a blogger) and see where it goes from there.

Admittedly none of these options are ideal but they all have merit. It's a matter of how much time you really want to invest. The more liberally minded (not politcally liberal but content liberal) the site, mag or paper is the more likely they are to pick up a story submitted by a reader/listener/watcher.

Make sure to emphasize the reluctance on both MS's part to confront the issue and the complete lack of interest the PR firms employees had. Sadly, sweatshops no longer draw the attention that they should and corporations are so immune to the effects of the topics bad press that they simply don't care any more. The only way around this is to name names and point fingers at individuals. I can all be garuntee that if you name individual employee names from MS and thier PR firm (especially the one who laughed at you) you will get a response, for no other reason than the fact that those employees will want to save thier job and trust me it will cost them thier job if it gets enough press.

The Roger Ebert "games as art" arguement...

Listening to all these people fighting over the "videogames cannot be art" comments from Mr Ebert reminds me of people arguing about the legality of abortion. It's just silly... every one knows videogames should only be played in cases of incest and rape, and not as a form of birth control (which happens far too often). Play me off Johnny!

Really?

First off, we don'tknow if Microsoft was aware of this or not. Second, China is a communist country, this is why we are supposed to oppose communism, so shit like this doesn't happen in our country. Third, the only people who can stop stuff like this from happening are the people of China. I'll be very surprised if Microsoft doesn't cut all ties with this company going forward. If we were able to peak behind the curtain and see the process involved in bringing us every product we purchase, I'm pretty sure we would be growing and making most of this shit ourselves. World's a bad place man, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

With that said, knowing what I now know, if Microsoft doesn't cut all ties with KYE going forward, then I won't be buying Microsoft brand 360 controllers anymore. But I'm willing to give them a chance to prove their quality as a company before I condemn them.

Unreal....

It's hard becuase whenever these things come to light, you realize how every facet of the lives we lead and most importantly the things we buy, is produced in like ways. People are treated like slaves so we can do something as inconsequential as play video games, surf the web, etc.

Until you get the numbers...

...Microsoft isn't going to take this seriously. Right now you have less than 200 sigs on your petition. Now, if you had 10,000 they may take you seriously. It's just a risk/reward thing to them - kind of like Fight Club and the whole recall discussion. If the money they are going to lose by the boycott is larger than the money they will save by this slave labor, they will do something to stop it but otherwise $$ will prevail. Especially with a company like Microsoft where $$$$$ always prevails - that is why they were hit with a monopoly suit about ten years ago and keep rehashing the same shit OS' and software year after year.

I do have a Microsoft office near my house, I could go there to complain and see how quickly they call the cops on me : )

To Clear Things Up

My wife read into it. She is from China after all and read chinese articles on it. She said that in this case (if your reading my other comments) is not kids that got in trouble but kids with poor families. She said its still not a surprise to anyone in China.

To clear the comment up about capitalism. That is not the problem here. My wife says the company is not the one pocketing the money. Its the government that is so stop bullshitting about stuff you don't know. I was also told (from my wife) that it really is possible that Microsoft didn't know. All of you jumping up and down about Microsoft without knowing all the details. I was told that families send them knowing of the conditions and factories take advantage of them because they know there condition.

Im sorry to be playing something like a devil's advocate but I am also stating what is actually known instead bullshit that a lot of comments represent. How about this...money that is often meant to go to schools in China usually go to governers. They use the money themselves and my wife said that one governer got in trouble for actually trying to put a stop to it all. There is many problems with China with human rights but Microsoft is far from the problem and it is stupid to use them as an example when this problem runs deep in their political system.

Did people read this? No? Than I guess you willl continue to be ignorant. I still think its great what you (Matt) are doing. Its sad though that if one governer that tried to change things got in trouble, there is no way in hell that us over can do a thing.

I have to say...

I will say kudos to you for giving this thing the attention it deserves. I firmly believe nobody should be so overworked or deal with such harsh conditions. Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can currently be done... but I believe every little bit helps.

I'll still be signing your petition because I feel this is unjust, but I won't go on living under the illusion that this isn't happening within any other company, similar to what Hydro said. It's very sad, but extremely true.

I work for a company that used to pay employees in my department up to $16 an hour. I work half as many hours as those former employees from yesteryear, making almost half of that amount. Some companies simply pay less to those who work harder, it's just how this sort of thing goes. Clerks make less now, and I'm quite confident corporate makes more. We cooperate with them, and in return they won't sacrifice our jobs to someone who would work for less than we already do. It's dirty, but it's how it currently works. Maybe I'm signing this petition because I believe it'll be that much of a step closer to a greater balance between the worker and the "watcher" (and by closer to "balance" I DON'T mean socialism).

What's most ridiculous about this is that they can't even leave! A bad job is one thing, but to literally own their lives? This is highly uncalled for.

Nice read, man. I hope this catches on. It's unfortuante that so many demons are potentially lurking within our much loved hobby. I'd like to believe it wasn't always this terrible, but honestly, I have no clue.

My biggest concern with this petition though... even if they ceased to contract this facility, who's to say another company wouldn't simply move in and resume? This sort of thing could be solid gold to the wrong kind of corporate douche.Either way, I'm sure it would hit them pretty hard.

Whack a mole

The point of raising a stink like this is to make an example of Microsoft. You show the companies that you do business with that you want them to do business differently. You tell Microsoft "this isn't cool" if they listen good for them.

The next time something like this happens you raise a stink again. You make an example of the next company. Then you go to the next company and you keep going until it doesn't pay to be in the business of treating workers horribly. You go until it doesn't pay the owners of the factories, the governemnt officials or American Businesses. You keep going because 100 years ago someone went for us. You go because years ago someone went to bat for auto workers, for women, for African Americans. You keep going after these companies because it is the right thing to do.

Oh and AverageToaster-

Fact: This isn't about America telling China what to do, this is about America telling Microsoft that it doesn't support companies that support sweatshop labor.

facts of life

if before you read this you guys weren't aware that this stuff happens, well, guess you've been schooled today. but the solution is not to boycott china or to feel guilty.

change has got to come from above in these situations where the "invisible hand" gives the finger to human rights. in this case, it's up to us, the consumer, to put pressure on Microsoft to start overseeing what goes on in their supplier's manufacturing facilities. in a more long term issue, we've got to put pressure on the CHINESE REGIME in particular. the reason we don't put up with "sweatshop" labor is because the United States, Australia, the UK, and most of the democratized world has put in place a great deal of rules regarding commerce and manufacturing practice. so we're used to labor unions and workers' rights---stuff that the regime in china actively squelches.

change may not come for a while. just don't be surprised when it doesn't show up tomorrow.

You should have a problem

This is the type of thing you should care about. If you don't care about something like this you're a shill of a person who couldn't give two flips about a fellow human's life and well being well I can't make you. If you actually feel this way and are not just being contrary well I feel sorry you feel that way.

Actually, on top of feeling sorry you feel that way, I feel sorry for you.

@Punk

"You go because years ago someone went to bat for auto workers, for women, for African Americans."

I can tell you the majority of people who went to bat in each situation you listed. Auto workers went to bat for themselves, as did women and African Americans. Just like gays and lesbians got to bat for gay rights. In each case they do have some help but until the people who are being treated unjustly go to bat for themselves, in this case the Chinese, nothing is ever going to change.

As I said on the 1up article

this isn't a MS factory so don't act like it's just them. It's ALL of them doing it. THIS is what "made in China" means.

@HaloChief - I agree. This wasn't "news" when it was revealed about Apple and it's not news now that it's MS. I've always assumed this was the price THEY pay (not us) when we buy that cheap "made to break device" that's made in China. Sure people SHOULD get upset and want to do something but to act surprised like they never knew this was happening until now is offensive.

Stuff like this makes me wish there was an electronics equivalent of places like Whole Foods that tries not to associate with this kind of garbage and provides the option of locally made products. Then again I guess there is. The company is called Apple. They outed themselves when they discovered the work conditions and they will act on it.

only microsoft

At least I´m 100 per cent sure that Nintendo, NEO GEO and Sega (back in the day) made all their parts, chips, controllers, etc in japanese soil, the AMERICAN version of those consoles were made and assembled in china, so I think this is an issue that must be solved in the U.S.A!

Horrible, embarassing

52 cents per hour? In these conditions? 15 hrs a day? This sh1t is fooked up! I am pretty sure Microsoft has enough money (they have more than enough... plenty) to pay these people at least $7 per hour or more. These guys get like no sleep, and for what? A xbox freakin controller! You just gave me another reason to why I don't support Xbox.

This is horrible and embarassing on Microsoft's part.

52 cents per hour? In these conditions? 15 hrs a day? This sh1t is fooked up! I am pretty sure Microsoft has enough money (they have more than enough... plenty) to pay these people at least $7 per hour or more. These guys get like no sleep, and for what? A xbox freakin controller! You just gave me another reason to why I don't support Xbox. I know it's a late reply, but I've been busy, but I just had to sign this.

american corporate practice

You said in one of your earlier responses that "Increasing profit margins by abusing a broken system elsewhere in the world is un-American and inhumane".

I agree that it is defintely inhumane. Sadly though it is far from un-American. It may be a far cry from what you think American behaviour should be. But it is sadly just another drop in the bucket of what America actually is. But I think that I pretty much agree with the core of your argument. It's up to the chinese people to change their own conditions, but that does not mean that north americans should sit idly by and let it happen, and reap the rewards, until China's revolution happens. We should definitely be doing everything we can on our side to ensure that we, as individuals and as a culture, do not support it. If that means tackling the problem one corporation at a time or even one Xbox controller at a time, it still needs to be done.

It is true that disgusting things like this have been perpetrated by North American corporations for ... well, for forever, really. It was done on home soil as much as possible, and then when public demand and outcry finally made it difficult to continue here, the companies swore they would never do such things again and then just quietly resumed doing it elsewhere, in countries where the people couldn't or wouldn't protest. And if you honestly believe that things like this aren't happening on North American soil anymore, then clearly you have no idea of some of the terrible things that happen in Wal-Mart stores. Here are some examples:

Wal-Mart is one of the ONLY corporations of its size that REFUSES to unionize its employees. It is not just a long time in coming or a slower process towards it. They are actively against unions, to the point where they will find excuses to fire employees who try to push for unions, to make an example of them and silence the others who want to be unionized as well. In the cases where an entire store location has enough of a majority of the employees pushing for and asking for unionization, the location is simply shut down, and ONLY those who were never vocal about asking for a union were transferred to other locations. The rest are out of a job.

Wal-Mart's business model is meant to destroy every other business in operation. This is especially true in smaller towns and centers. Wal-Mart will offer unbelievably low prices on everyday items. They will offer prices that no other store could possibly compete with. They will actually offer items at far less than the purchase price, meaning that they consistently take a loss on most of the items that go through their tills. They do this because they can afford to take the hit, while smaller businesses cannot. Once they have completely cornered the market and driven every other shopkeeper out of business - grocers, gas stations, clothing stores, toy stores, you name it - the prices will SKYROCKET, because there will be literally nowhere else a person has the option to shop, so they are forced to pay whatever Wal-Mart wants them to pay. This is why small communities who are actually aware of Wal-Mart's practices have adamantly protested the erection of Wal-Mart stores in their area.

Wal-Mart stores even steal money from municipal governments. With more and more of their locations being "big box" locations, it is not within their business model to simply set up shop inside a shopping mall or in some available building in a downtown center. In many cases it actually requires extensive construction, and sometimes even revision of city routes and roads. Wal-Mart stores will often enter into a contract with the city in question. The city will foot the bill for materials, labor costs, and infrastructure changes in order to accomodate the new big-box store. In exchange, Wal-Mart will sign a contract stating that after 5 years in operation to stabilize the location, they will begin handing over some percentage of their profits (normally between 5 and 10 percent depending on what the city will agree to). Now, when the 5 year period is approaching the end, Wal-Mart will close the location, stating that it was not profitable enough. This leaves the city with a huge bill to pay and no kick-backs from Wal-Mart to pay it. They are also left with a huge big-box-store lot with the primary big-box-store no longer in operation. And after a couple of years when they feel they can legitimately make the excuse to do so, Wal-Mart will decide to build a new location, about half a block away from where the first one was. It is far enough away that they still have to pay some construction fees and the rest, but close enough that they can still take advantage of the major infrastructure changes that were supposed to have been paid for by their original location, and instead are being paid for by municipal governments, meaning less money for the city's social programs - or meaning heavier taxes on residents to compensate for the losses.

The above may not be "sweatshop" practices, but they are obviously filthy, backstabbing, treacherous, and inexcusable. And I guarantee that most of you reading this have a Wal-Mart location no more than a few minutes' drive from you - if not closer. So it's pretty much happening on your doorstep. It's not enough to accuse chinese sweatshops of being "un-american" and then sit tight in your american home, confident that such practices are too far away to really matter to you. Corporations are doing awful things everywhere - on home soil and abroad. It's not enough to avoid items that say "made in china", and yet support the wildly inhumane and money-grubbing crap that happens right here in america. Garbage like this is really the tip of the iceberg, and if you really want to see any of it changed, it will require a far more conscientious decision-making process than looking at a label and seeing what country it was manufactured in.

Cool

Ideas? Maybe?

Have you tried feeding this to a new station? Someone with a track record of social-justice minded packages? Otherwise, keep working at delivering this message to people who affect Microsoft's profit and hype. Game Informer, IGN, Examiner... Hell, even Twitter.I've been passing your blog around today and people are paying attention. You just have to keep at it. Share it with anyone who will listen.

If they won't acknowledge you as the journalist that you are, let them hear this from people they apparently respect. Or at least fear.